Lock-nut.



Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. R. HIBBARD.

LOCK NUT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1910.

1,1 1 1,382, Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

W 2%Z 53@5 Iii ($67357 5W IPMM m 5 AW 0% Mgg UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

EDWARD B. HIBBAED, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 GRIP NUT COMPANY,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LOCK-NUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

Application filed August 13, 1910. Serial No. 577,071.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD R. HIBBARD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lock-Nuts, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of nuts designed to operatein such a manner as to prevent loosening or accidental disengagement,and sometimes called lock nuts or grip nuts.

It consists in the novel construction and form shown and described inthe specification and drawings and more particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts, Figure 1 shows a bolt provided wit my improved nut,the nuthavmg not yet been screwed down to the point to bear upon theproximate structure, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the nut firmlyseated, Fig. 3 shows .a similar view indicating the tendency of the nutto impinge upon and engag e the supporting or proximate structure whenthe nut has been seated for a considerable length of time or when it isattempted to back the same ofi, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the nutshowing the preferred form, Fig. 5 indicates an extension of the surfaceof the nut to more clearly indicate the outline, Fig. 6 is a modifiedform, Fig. 7 is a view similar to the Figs.

-1 to 3 inclusive showing the position of the parts just before the nutis seated, Fig. 8 shows the nut in place, Fig. 9 shows a lefthandedmodified form of the nut shown in Fig. (i, Fig. 10 shows the said nutfirmly seated and impinging upon and biting into the proximatestructure, and Fig. 11 shows another left-handed modification.

In the drawings 1 is a nut of the usual form provided with a screwthreaded aperture '2. The nut is preferably of such dimensions andmaterial as to have a slight spring when firmly seated. In the simplestform shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the nut after being formed and preferablyscrew threaded, is struck up on a suitable form to give it a slighttwist, which may if desired be sufiiciently pronounced to extend to andslightly distort the threads, causing them to form a tighter frictionalfit with the bolt threads. The corners of the nut are preferablycomparatively sharp, and it will be seen that when the nut is placedupon the bolt 3 and screwed down upon the intervening structure l, 5that the advancing corners of the nut are slightly elevated above therear corners so that the first contact of the nut with the structure ison what may be called the following corners, the same first dragging onfaces or corners 12 in seating. Firmly seating the nut in the usualmanner serves to spring the nut downward into its normal position,firmly seating the whole proximate "face upon the structure, as shown inFig. 2.

The spring of the nut tends to firmly bind the threads in frictionalcontact with the threads of the bolt, and the reaction of this springcontact serves to press the impinging corners of the nut firmly upon theintervening structure 4, tending to form a posi the connection, to agreater or less extent, between the impinging corners and the structure,and to an extent depending upon the comparative quality or hardness ofthe two proximate parts. As time passes the continued pressure increasesthis action tending to firmly lock the nut in position and to preventaccidental disengagement. Any attempt to back the nut oil", in the usualmovement, tends to force the impinging corners 14 firmly upon thestructure and if the proximate structure 4 is of softer material, intothe same, which has to be overcome by the force exerted in removing thenut. The nut is cheaply and economically made and is adapted for a largenumber of uses, particularly 'where the intervening structure 4 is ofsofter material than the nut and where there is no likelihood of therebeing any necessity. to separate the parts. Should the nut ever becomeloose by reason of shrinking of the-intervening material, it may bereadily tightened again with substantially the same force and effect bythe use of a suitable wrench. It is obvious that the twist to the nutmay be given before or after the thread is cut therein, preferablyafter, as previously pointed out. In either case the spring of the metalaids in the locking operation. Any well known means may be employed toprevent the bolt accidentally turning in its seat.

While in the 1preferred form the nut is made quadrangu ar, and is soshown in the drawings for the purpose of more clearly indicating theaction, it is obvious that the same effect may be secured to anappreciable extent in a hexagonal or other desired form of nut.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inelusive, an old style of nut isshown in which the opposite faces are reduced by parallel grooves 6, 6providing a transverse spring in the nut. In the form shown in Figs. 6,7 and 8, substantially the same twisted form is shown as beforedescribed which the advancing corner as the nut is screwed into positionis slightly elevated above the rear corner. The operation issubstantially the same with the exception that in addition to the slighttorsional strain before described in seating the nut the transversespring pro-- vided for also comes into action to a slight extent,serving perhaps to more tightly lock the nut upon the bolt. The resultof pressing the advanced or impinging points upon the interveningstructure is substantially the same and the effect resulting from anyeffort to remove the nut is also substantially the same. I I

In the form shown in Figs. 9 and 11,. (in which a left handed nut isshown) the nut just described is further modified by providing anintervening impinging point between the corners of the nut on eitherside. As here shown, the advancing corners 8, 8 are balanced by theimpinging corners 9, 9 when the nut is firmly seated in position. Inaddition to this two additional impinging points 14, 14 (or 10-10 in theoppositeside when the nut is reversed) are provided, extending in thesame direction as the points 9, 9. In either of these modified forms thenuts drag in seating on the faces l212, etc. In this form the principalspring of the nut relied upon is the transverse spring caused by meansof the grooves 6'6 'on op osite faces of the nut. It is obvious that ifdesired but one face of the nut need be grooved, such form, aside fromthe impinging features being old and well known in the art. Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure byLetters Patent is 1. A bolt nut, threaded to cooperate with a suitablebolt and given a slight twist extending therethrough, slightlydistorting the thread and thus forming the nut with one or more portionson the bearing face bent downward beyond the plane of the face of thenut in the direction of the travel of the same when backed off the bolt,substantially as described.

2. A bolt nut, threaded to cooperate with a suitable bolt, the nuthaving a slight twist extending therethrough at right angles to itsaxis, and provided on its opposite faces with parallel centraldepressions and formed with one or more portions on its bearing facebent downward beyond the plane of the face of the nut in a direction ofthe travel with the same when backed off the bolt, substantially and forthe purpose set forth.

3. A bolt nut, normally formed with a slight twist at right angles tothe axis thereof, with a thread cut therein while in its normalposition, whereby when the nut is screwed to place upon a structure thethread is sli htly distorted as the proximate surface of t e nut isstraightened and one or more points are abnormally pressed upon theproximate structure in opposition to the direction of the nut whenbacked off the bolt.

4. A bolt nut, composed of slightly resilient material and normallyformed with a slight twist at right angles to the axis thereof, with athread cut therein while in its normal position, whereby when the nut isscrewed to place upon a structure the thread is slightly distorted asthe proximate surface of the nut is straightened and one or more pointsare abnormally pressed upon the proximate structure in opposition to thedirection of the nut when backed offthe bolt.

Intestimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

EDWAIIILD \R. HIBBARD.

